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Chapters 11 and 12 Test (Closed book, NO notes)

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.  Please put all answers on the answer sheet.  Be sure to save time to answer 2 open-ended questions.
 
 
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 1. 
The Federal courts handle cases involving bankruptcy and _____
A
maritime law.
C
civil liberties.
B
regulatory laws.
D
public policy.
 

 2. 
The Supreme Court has the power to interpret the Constitution and _______
A
federal law.
C
uphold regulatory laws.
B
draft treaties with foreign nations.
D
settle land disputes between states.
 
 
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 3. 
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has jurisdiction over the ________
A
94 District Courts.
C
Territorial Courts.
B
Military Courts.
D
U.S. Court of International Trade.
 

 4. 
Which court hears appeals from the highest state courts?
A
U.S. Court of Military Appeals
C
Supreme Court
B
12 U.S. Courts of Appeals
D
U.S. Court of International Trade
 

 5. 
These courts derive their power from the Constitution and federal laws.
A
federal courts
C
concurrent courts
B
due process clause courts
D
state courts
 

 6. 
A trial court has _____
A
appellate jurisdiction.
C
concurrent jurisdiction.
B
original jurisdiction.
D
federal jurisdiction.
 

 7. 
People engaged in lawsuits are called _____
A
criminals.
C
justices.
B
victims.
D
litigants.
 

 8. 
This is the court of last resort in all questions of federal law.
A
district court
C
Supreme Court
B
territorial court
D
appellate court
 

 9. 
Explanation for the Supreme Court's decision is called _______
A
a legal draft.
C
litigation.
B
an opinion.
D
judicial referee.
 

 10. 
These courts derive their power from the state constitutions and laws.
A
constitutional courts
C
state courts
B
concurrent courts
D
federal courts
 

 11. 
A court of appeals has _______
A
original jurisdiction.
C
appellate jurisdiction.
B
grand jury jurisdiction.
D
concurrent jurisdiction.
 

 12. 
According to the Fourteenth Amendment, a state may not take a person's life, liberty, or property without _________
A
a Supreme Court opinion.
C
original jurisdiction.
B
appellate jurisdiction.
D
due process.
 

 13. 
If you are registered to vote or have a driver's license, you may be called ______
A
for an indictment.
C
for jury duty.
B
by a judicial circuit.
D
to be a litigate.
 

 14. 
The majority of the cases the Supreme Court hears come _________
A
from lower courts as appeals.
C
from the president.
B
through federal jurisdiction.
D
through Congressional hearings.
 

 15. 
An order from the Supreme Court for lower courts to send up records is a __________
A
brief.
C
writ of certiorari.
B
precedent.
D
per curiam.
 

 16. 
A friend of the court is _________
A
an amicus curiae.
C
a lobbyist.
B
a writ of certiorari.
D
a justice.
 

 17. 
A brief unsigned statement of a Supreme Court decision is a ________
A
stare decisis.
C
quid pro quo.
B
per curiam opinion.
D
writ of certiorari.
 

 18. 
Once the Court rules on a case, the ruling becomes __________ for future decisions.
A
precedent
C
stare decisis
B
writ of certiorari
D
per curiam opinion
 
 
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 19. 
According to the graph (State and Local Laws overturned by the Supreme Court), which Chief Justice of the Supreme Court held the position the longest?
A
Marshall
C
Fuller
B
Taney
D
Rehnquist
 

 20. 
Study the graph (State and Local Laws overturned by the Supreme Court). How many state and local laws has the Supreme Court overturned since 1946?
A
231
C
661
B
544
D
778
 

 21. 
According to the graph (State and Local Laws overturned by the Supreme Court), the Burger Court has overturned the most federal laws.
A
True
B
False
 

 22. 
According to the graph (State and Local Laws overturned by the Supreme Court), the Rehnquist Court has overturned the most state and local laws.
A
True
B
False
 

 23. 
The court of which Chief Justice overturned more than 18 laws/year according to the graph (State and Local Laws overturned by the Supreme Court)?
A
Marshall
C
Rehnquist
B
Burger
D
Warren
 

 24. 
The Court that overturned the most state and local laws was an active influence in government policy during which period of US History?  Use infromation from the graph (State and Local Laws overturned by the Supreme Court).
A
Great Depression Era
C
Civil War Era
B
World War II Era
D
Civil Rights Era
 
 
“Trial judges, because of the multitude of cases they hear which remain unheard or unchanged by appellate courts, as well as because of their fact- and issue-shaping powers, appear to play an independent and formidable part in the policy impact of the federal court system upon the larger political system.”
— Kenneth M. Dolbeare, 1969
 

 25. 
According to the passage above, why are trial judges able to shape policy?
A
They have little fact-shaping power.
C
They are dependent on the circuit courts.
B
Their decisions are usually final.
D
The Constitution grants them this power.
 

 26. 
In this passage Kenneth M. Dolbeare expressed his opinion, stating that ________ are key players in the political system.
A
trial judges
C
Supreme Court justices
B
defense attorneys
D
appellate courts
 
 
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 27. 
An estimated 10 percent of the federal judicial branch is comprised of African Americans. Based on this estimate, approximately how many U.S. District judges are African American?
A
47
C
17
B
65
D
9
 

 28. 
How many more U.S. District judges are there than U.S. Circuit judges?
A
470
C
407
B
3
D
661
 

 29. 
Most of the cases heard by the Supreme Court are cases involving _______
A
federal laws.
C
economic issues.
B
civil liberties.
D
congressional hearings.
 

 30. 
The power to confirm appointments to the Supreme Court is held by _______
A
state legislatures.
C
the Senate.
B
the people.
D
the House of Representatives.
 

 31. 
A written statement that sets forth legal argument is called a _________
A
writ of certiorari.
C
per curiam opinion.
B
brief.
D
decision.
 

 32. 
In Gideon vs Wainright, the Court ruled that the Fourteenth Amendment guarantees the right to ________
A
a speedy trial.
C
a court-appointed lawyer.
B
lower bail.
D
present cases to the Supreme Court.
 
 
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 33. 
In order to make it to the Supreme Court, a case must meet certain requirements or adhere to a complex set of standards and procedures. Complete the chart above, identifying the three main routes by which a case reaches the highest court in the land.
A
per curiam
C
amicus curiae
B
writ of certiorari
D
judicial review
 
 
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 34. 
The Supreme Court helps shape public policy through its decisions. Complete the chart, identifying the five types of cases most often argued before the Court.
A
foreign policy
C
divorce
B
homeland security
D
due process of law
 
 
nar006-1.jpg
 

 35. 
Study the chart. Which of the following influences is a part of the system of checks and balances?
A
social forces
C
Congress’s power to confirm justices
B
president’s power to enforce laws
D
concern for public support
 

 36. 
Congress has the power to alter the language and scope of laws rejected by the Supreme Court and re-enact (pass them agin) them as different laws.
A
True
B
False
 
 
“Today, education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments. . . . In these days, it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education. Such an opportunity . . . is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms.”
—Chief Justice Earl Warren
 

 37. 
In this decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the “separate but equal” doctrine was unconstitutional.
A
Marbury v. Madison
C
Dred Scott v. Sandford
B
Brown v. Board of Education
D
Plessy v. Ferguson
 

__________________________________________________________________________
Matching  Match the correct word for each item.
 
 
A
federal courts
D
Court of International Trade
B
presidential appointment
E
laws and tradition
C
concurrent jurisdiction
 

 38. 

 both state and federal court jurisdiction
 

 39. 

 bankruptcy jurisdiction
 

 40. 

 deals with tariffs
 

 41. 

 sources of Supreme Court duties
 

 42. 

 "election" of Supreme Court justices
 
 
_____________________________________________________________________
A
Thurgood Marshall
C
law clerks
B
Marbury v. Madison
D
jurisdiction of the court
 

 43. 

 authority to hear certain cases
 

 44. 

 established judicial review
 

 45. 

 first African American justice
 

 46. 

 assist justices
 

Open-ended Questions: Answer 2 questions.  Use complete sentences.  (5 points each)
 

 47. 
Why might a person who is being sued by someone who lives in another state demand that the case be tried in a federal court?
 

 48. 
What two actions could Congress take to undo a Supreme Court ruling that a federal law is unconstitutional? Explain the advantages and disadvantages of each action.
 

 49. 
Some people maintain that all judges should be elected rather than appointed in order to make them more accountable to the people. Should this principle apply to Supreme Court justices? Explain why or why not.
 



 
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